Ready meals are foods that are already ready to eat or cook and only need to be heated or prepared. Ready meals are convenient, save time, and offer a wide variety of flavors and dishes. But how healthy are ready meals really? The answer is: Mostly not very.
The disadvantages of ready meals
Ready meals have some health disadvantages due to their high processing and ingredients. Here are some of them:
- Ready meals often contain too much **salt**, **sugar**, **fat**, and **calories**, which can contribute to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases¹²³.
- Ready meals often contain **additives** and **flavorings** that are intended to improve shelf life and taste but can also trigger allergies, headaches, digestive problems, and cancer¹²⁴.
- Ready meals often contain **hydrogenated fats** and **trans fats**, which can increase bad LDL cholesterol and lower good HDL cholesterol. This can lead to arteriosclerosis, heart attack, and stroke¹²³.
- Ready meals often contain too few **fiber**, **vitamins**, **minerals**, and **antioxidants**, which are important for healthy digestion, a strong immune system, and good cell function¹²³.
- Ready meals can alter the **sense of taste** by accustoming it to artificial and exaggerated flavors. This can lead to natural and home-cooked foods being perceived as bland or boring¹².
The alternatives to ready meals
So, ready meals are mostly not very healthy and should only be consumed occasionally and in moderation. However, there are also alternatives to ready meals that can be healthier and just as convenient. Here are some of them:
- **Frozen vegetables** or **fruit**: These products are flash-frozen immediately after harvesting, thus retaining their nutrients and taste. They can be quickly thawed or cooked and are suitable for salads, smoothies, or as a side dish¹.
- **Canned goods**: These products are preserved by heating and usually contain no additives or flavorings. They can be used for soups, stews, or as a side dish. However, pay attention to the salt and sugar content¹.
- **Home-cooked meals**: You can prepare these products yourself from fresh or minimally processed foods and then freeze them or store them in the refrigerator. This way, you always have a healthy meal on hand that you just need to heat up¹.
## Conclusion: Ready meals are mostly not very healthy and should only be consumed occasionally and in moderation. However, there are also alternatives to ready meals that can be healthier and just as convenient. It is therefore advisable to inform yourself about the different types of food and to follow a balanced diet.
(1) Ready meals: Appealing, but unhealthy | Apotheken Umschau. https://www.apotheken-umschau.de/gesund-bleiben/ernaehrung/ernaehrung-industrie/mogelpackungen-849333.html.
(2) Ready meals: How healthy they really are | FOCUS.de. https://praxistipps.focus.de/fertiggerichte-so-gesund-sind-sie-wirklich_119507.
(3) What happens in your body when you eat ready meals. https://www.codecheck.info/news/Das-passiert-in-Deinem-Koerper-wenn-Du-Fertiggerichte-isst-388371.
(4) Healthy eating: Are ready meals healthy? – Löwenanteil. https://www.loewenanteil.com/blogs/wissen/gesunde-ernahrung-sind-fertiggerichte-gesund.
